Wyoming, G.T.N.P., Blacktail Butte

Accident Reports

Accident Year:

Publication Year: 1970

Wyoming, G.T.N.P., Blacktail Butte. On 28 August William Clark (19), was belaying Douglas Boggie (27), both relatively inexperienced, while Boggie tried a difficult section of the practice cliff. According to Boggie, he was about 20 feet above the scree slope and about 10 feet above a moderate sized ledge, when he fell. He immediately felt the rope slip as he landed on the ledge. Clark slipped from his belay stance and fell about 50 feet onto a steeply pitched scree slope. Clark was knocked into a semi-conscious state and remained so while he received first aid during the rescue operation. He suffered a broken right upper arm, fractured skull, multiple lacerations and bruises, a ruptured diaphragm, collapsed lung, and ruptured spleen. He was not wearing a hard hat.

Source: Ted Wilson, Park Banger, G.T.N.P.

Analysis: Clark was belaying without an anchor. Since this is such a fundamental aspect of belaying, it can only be attributed to his inexperience.

Wyoming, G.T.N.P., Blacktail Butte

Wyoming, G.T.N.P., Blacktail Butte. On 28 August William Clark (19), was belaying Douglas Boggie (27), both relatively inexperienced, while Boggie tried a difficult section of the practice cliff. According to Boggie, he was about 20 feet above the scree slope and about 10 feet above a moderate sized ledge, when he fell. He immediately felt the rope slip as he landed on the ledge. Clark slipped from his belay stance and fell about 50 feet onto a steeply pitched scree slope. Clark was knocked into a semi-conscious state and remained so while he received first aid during the rescue operation. He suffered a broken right upper arm, fractured skull, multiple lacerations and bruises, a ruptured diaphragm, collapsed lung, and ruptured spleen. He was not wearing a hard hat.

Source: Ted Wilson, Park Banger, G.T.N.P.

Analysis: Clark was belaying without an anchor. Since this is such a fundamental aspect of belaying, it can only be attributed to his inexperience.

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